A few weeks ago, in the “New Items” section of my Santa Cruz Trader Joe’s, I spied a package with a woman wearing a conical hat. The product was “Sesame Crepes” but there was nothing upfront that advertised the chewy, nutty sweet as being Vietnamese. Turn over the package and the description says: “This sweet and chewy snack is a traditional favorite in Vietnam…” Moreover, the packaging says that sesame crepes are actually from Vietnam! Trader Joe’s doesn’t divulge any other cultural information about the candy, but most likely they’re the same as keo me xung, a common candy and specialty of Hue.
Was it worth bringing the crepes back? I resoundingly say, “Yes!!! Thanks Trader Joe’s!” The sesame crepes make a nice snack and dessert. However, I don’t know why they are considered a crepe. In the Vietnamese repertoire, this stuff is more like a confection (e.g., candy). There are numerous kinds of sesame candies and their shape and texture vary between little chunks and flat rounds, to crunchy to chewy and soft. This is like a fruit roll up that features buttery toasted sesame seeds.
Semantics aside, I’m glad that Trader Joe’s had brought this little Vietnamese ditty back. If TJ ever discontinues the item again, you can try Asianwok.com and Luscherb.com. I know little about these e-tailers but they do have Vietnamese sesame candy at their sites.
Have you eaten this Vietnamese candy? What are your thoughts? Are you able to buy the cashew and rice wafer candy at your local Trader Joe’s? Those are seriously tasty too.
Amy says
funny thing about your site. I just started reading it and it is uncanny how you follow what i am actually doing in life. i had just bought 3 crab fish sauce and asked a vietnamese friend which one she liked and out came your post re: same. (she likes 1 crab, as it is less salty). while shopping at my local vietnamese products store they fed me sesame candy and i shared tj's wafers with mixed nuts and seeds. I was in tjs next day or so and saw new product sesame crepes. I bought them but have not tried them yet. can't wait to see what we will be in sync with next. Just funny to me how that happens
Amy, cape Cod MA. small kitchen big view
cruly says
Oh my goodness..my father will love these things! Indians have a similar candy/sweet (albeit not so soft) with sesame seeds that he loves. My aunt bought these when we were in Ohio and they were devoured in minutes. Glad to know they can be found at TJs across the nation!
Andrea Nguyen says
Amy -- LOL! Delighted to know that we're on the same wave length leading parallel food lives!
Cruly -- Ohio - India - Vietnam, those are amazing links to make with one round of sesame candy. I ate the last of what we had last night before my husband got to it. Now I'll have to get another package.
Christine says
Oh I love these. My Sicilian mother used to make around Christmas time something with a very similar flavor: basically sesame seed brittle made with honey and almonds. Delicious, but super break your teeth crunchy! I buy the soft Vietnamese rounds at any number of Asian markets in Philly. Similar flavor but no fear of cracking a tooth.
Lan says
I've only encountered the Chinese sesame bricks with nuts. They were always hard as a rock so I was always a little worried about chipping a tooth on them.
Thang says
Delicious looking Banh Trung Thu!
Mimi says
Andrea, I was just at Trader Joe's yesterday in search of the sesame crepes and came across those and also the cashew/rice wafer candy also. I bought some immediate as the sesame ones are my mom's favorite and the cashew ones are my dad's favorite. My mom complained that the sesame crepes had too much sesame seeds and weren't "deo" enough, but the cashew ones taste just like the real thing!
N. says
They have these at the Philadelphia Trader Joe's. I was really excited to see them there, as I used to buy these candies all the time at the local Viet markets until about four years ago when I found a worm in a package and was so grossed out that I haven't bought them since. I picked up some from Trader Joe's, but I haven't tried them yet.
Andrea Nguyen says
Yikes -- a worm? Oh boy. The Trader Joe's sesame crepes are worm free, at least the ones I tried.
katherine says
So happy to know these are back at TJ's!! We make periodic runs from Monterey to San Jose to buy them, no kidding. (Well, we also have a bahn xeo at Grand Century Mall....)
Miika says
I remember when TJ carried them and when they discontinued them. I had to go to Vietnamese store, to get these babies but that store was so far away. Today I was walking around my lovely Trader Joes in UTC San Diego CA when I spotted them. I think I scared the crap out of the old man looking at the wine section when I shouted for joy. I didn't care though. My "candy" is back!
Van Tran says
HI Andrea.
I am Vietnamese, living in Ireland now and I am a cookery teacher. I love your site, where I can discover more ideas about culture and especially improve my limmitted English. I have found this sesame crepe in a Chinese shop in my town. What a surprise for me and the trademark shows that it is from Hue. I brought it in and shown it to my students on the last night of the course when I let them taste most of Asian snacks. They loved it and enjoy the stickiness of the crepe. What a pleasure for me.
Karen says
I love these because I'm a Celiac and must eat gluten-free. It satisfied my desire for something sweet. I eat barely a quarter of one and I'm satisfied.
John says
Yes .. they are back! And Gluten Free!
Kristina says
They are gone again!
Lynn says
I found them yesterday at new TJ store in Agoura, CA.
It's interesting they are so universally enjoyed. Yum!
susan evans says
Trader joes has discontinued the sesame crepes in san francisco.. Does anyone know where to find them in this area??? Thanks.
Jacqueline in Pasadena says
I'm eating a sesame crepe right now as I type this. It is absolutely, fabulously delicious!!! No doubt about it. I will be returning to the Philippines in a few weeks and I want to take a box-load back with me as a pasalubong (gift from afar). Can I get a box wholesalw? If you haven't tried sesame crepes yet, you simply must. I guarantee you will become hooked! Try Trader Joe's in Pasadena.
Jeff says
Discontinued several weeks ago at TJ's, all across the chain. When I stopped at their website and sent a complaint to their main office, they replied that the crepes did not sell well enough at any of their stores. What can you do? They once had crushed fresh ginger, which they also discontinued...
Mick says
I too went to Trader Joe's in Plainview, NY and was told that they were discontinued. Too bad - who is doing the buying for TJ's anyway?? Bad move!!!!
Andrea Nguyen says
Went to TJ yesterday and asked about the sesame crepes. They said a lack of demand forced them to discontinue carrying the crepes. They've brought them back before.
How about if you all email them to tell them you want the crepes back?
http://www.traderjoes.com/about/index.asp
dr. s.d. w. flouton says
where can i find trader joes in broome county ny? binghamton, endicott, endwell, johnsoncity.... i really want the sesame crepes.
UGG Outlet says
Guess I could find somebody too
But I do want no one but you
How could you leavewithoutregret.
liangliang says
Trader Joe is not carrying the crepes any more?
Andrea Nguyen says
Liangliang: No, Trader Joe's is not carrying the crepes anymore. I asked them at corporate and they said there was not enough demand! 🙁
alicia says
WHere can you buy them?? I have been looking for them all over.
Classic Timberland Boots says
I like ANMJ on FB & just subscribed to the email feed! 🙂
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